John Darling is concerned. Peter and Wendy have children, but they aren't married... well, there's only one solution: a wedding! But between Scheming!Tink, Baffled!Smee, and a rowdy band of Lost Boys, will they even make it down the ... er ... plank?

Author's
Note: Well, here's the first chapter of what will be a short,
five-or-so chapter story. I've been fighting with this idea for a few
days now; it simply refuses to go away and demands to be written.

The
Lost Boys, all but one, dove off of the Jolly Roger's plank
and into the ocean. Even baby Michael took the plunge; clutching Bear
with a delighted shriek, he plugged his nose and squeezed his eyes
shut until impact with the water. As he bobbed to the surface, Nibs
grabbed a hold of his arm and hefted him onto the ladder.

John
Darling sat out, watching with a faint frown as Peter somersaulted
into the water, making the biggest splash of all. The boy then caught
a squealing Wendy in his grip and shook water all over her. "Peter!"
Wendy, giggling, tousled his hair playfully. "You've got me all
wet!" The boy who would never grow up just laughed smugly, and
handed Wendy a large towel.

This
exchange was particularly troubling to John. Wendy, noticing his
discomfort, came to sit beside him, towel draped over her shoulders.
"What's the matter, John?"

Wendy
laughed affectionately, brushing John's bangs away from his face.
"You are full of silly questions today, John. Who else do you
think your father could be?"

But
John shook his head. "Then you and Father are married, aren't
you?"

That
threw the older girl for a pause, and she could do nothing but stare
for several seconds, blinking rapidly. John, seeing that he had upset
his mother, explained hurriedly, "It's only that mothers and
fathers ought to be married."

She
looked disturbed, her eyes flying to Peter and sticking there as a
light blush colored her cheeks. "John!" she cried,
embarrassed. "I…"

But
Wendy had no answer for him; for indeed, she remembered, mothers and
fathers ought to be married. Her mind conjured all sorts of
words that she couldn't quite attach meanings to, except that
a severe sense of impropriety surged through her: words such as
wedlock, and wanton, and loose.

Wendy
wasn't entirely sure of the location of the path of sin, but it
sounded positively dreadful and she was one-hundred-percent certain
that she didn't want to walk it.

"Well,
yes, John," she managed finally. "I suppose they ought to
be."

John
seemed appeased. "Well then," he spoke with finality, "You
and Peter are to be married!"

"We're
what?"

Both
children spun at the new voice; Peter's hands were on his hips and an
absolutely baffled expression donned his face. Wendy's face darkened
to a shade comparable to a summer rose as John stated
matter-of-factly, "You're to be married. All mothers and
fathers must be married."

Peter
frowned. "What's 'married'?" He asked, and his eyes lit.
"Is it dangerous?"

John
looked at Wendy, who sought desperately for a proper answer. "Oh,
no. To be married is…oh, dear. It's a…a promise, that mothers and
fathers make, that means…that they'll always stay together, and…and
always care for their children, as long as they live."

They
waited without breath as he seemed to consider the idea. "That
seems reasonable," he decided.

Disregarding
her towel, Wendy threw her arms around Peter's neck joyfully. "But,"
she exclaimed as she pulled away, suddenly realizing what a big
undertaking a wedding was, "Who will marry us?"

Peter
frowned at her, puzzled. "I thought that I was marrying
you," he said slowly.

Wendy
laughed patiently, resisting the urge to thimble his cheek (because
Peter didn't like to show affection in front of the Lost Boys;
Fathers were supposed to be tough). "You are. But someone has to
actually perform the ceremony."

Nibs,
who had joined the group, raised his hand eagerly. "I can do
it!" He cried eagerly. "Oh, please, Mother!"

Wendy,
who didn't like to show any doubts in her sons, eyed him nervously.
"Are you certain? It's a very important job." He nodded
earnestly, a smile lighting his face. "All right, then, Nibs,"
she declared. "John can teach you what to say to join us in
marriage."

With
a gleeful whoop, Nibs leapt to his feet and ran to the edge of the
Jolly Roger. "Did you hear that, boys? I'm
going to marriage Mother and Father!"

This
news brought a fresh hoard of Lost Boys, each clambering to have a
special job in the wedding. Wendy pressed her hands to her cheeks,
overwhelmed. "Oh, my!" She cried fretfully. "One at a
time boys, please!"

But
they ignored her, continuing their shouting and tugging at her
nightgown, until, "SHUT UP!" Silence flattened each
boys' smile and Peter pointed his sword threateningly. "The next
person to speak without permission gets run through!"

Wendy
sat up a little straighter, although she knew he hadn't been speaking
to her. Sometimes Peter was a little frightening (but really, it was
part of the appeal).

"All
right," she began in a soothing tone, "I'm sure we can find
something for each of you. Nibs shall conduct the ceremony…Slightly,
you can provide music…Toodles, you can be the ring bearer…and…and
of course I shall need…" she cast around for something to say,
"I shall need…"

"Guests!"

She
blinked, turning her head in surprise at the sound of Peter's voice.
He winked. "That's the most important job of all, gents. Just
think of it: you have to sit as still and quiet as possible so's you
don't disturb anything. And if you don't…" he trailed off,
shuddering.

Wendy's
eyes twinkled as she bit her lip, playing along. "Oh, perhaps
that's too dangerous for the boys, Peter," she began, before the
shouts of the boys overpowered her meek suggestion.

"Please,
Mother!"

"We
can do it, Mother!"

"I
won't hardly make no sound at all!"

"I'm
the quietest boy you ever saw, Mother, I can do it!"

She
smiled, heaving a sigh. "Oh, all right," she acquiesced.
"But you must be careful, won't you? I need you to
promise." The children each held out a pinkie, and Wendy
dutifully linked with each in turn. "No crossies," she
demanded sternly, and the boys nodded solemnly. She met Peter's eyes.
"Thank-you," she said to him quietly.

He
didn't answer, merely grinned smugly. "Oh, the cleverness of
me," he crowed, before lifting into the air and diving back into
the water. The Lost Boys quickly followed; this time with John in
tow. Wendy shook her head, smiling as each sprinted off of the plank
and into the cool ocean below.

Something
in Wendy declared loudly that weddings weren't supposed to happen
exactly like this; but something else, something larger
exclaimed that it didn't matter how things were done in London—this
was Neverland and she, Wendy Moira Angela Darling, was about to
become a Pan.

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